7 car-camping tips from freeskier Devin Logan

Summer’s here! Load up the pickup and get lost like freeskier Devin Logan. Photo courtesy Logan

Having won the silver medal in women’s ski slopestyle in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, three X Games medals, a national championship title, two Winter Dew Tour titles, and three Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) overall titles, freeskier Devin Logan is well accustomed to camping out on the winner’s podium. As the youngest of five siblings growing up in an active family in Vermont, she’s also used to camping outside—one of her favorite pastimes when not on the snow.

“I’ve recently gotten into camping with some friends that grew up in Colorado and have picked up some pretty helpful tips along the way,” she says of her outings into the deserts of Utah and mountains of Colorado. “Car camping’s great because you don’t have to count every ounce; it’s all about ease and comfort.”

GrindTV.com caught up with her for her top tips.

The best thing about car camping, says Devin Logan, is that there’s really no weight limit to what you can pack in. Photo courtesy Logan

On gear
A good tent and sleeping bag are essential! You need a tent that will keep you warm, dry, and sand free, especially if you’re in Moab and the winds pick up. A sleeping bag is also key because sometimes even when the days are warm it can be pretty chilly at night. For tents, I like The North Face’s Kings Canyon 3; it’s lightweight, spacious, and easy to set up. For a sleeping bag, I like The North Face’s Hightail 2S, or, if you really want to spoil yourself, the Mountain Manor 6. Make sure to dry clean them at the end of the camping season.

On cooking
Cooking is one of my favorite things to do when camping. I’ve learned how to get creative using an outdoor kitchen. Always prepare your food before you go. I like to marinate my meats, slice up fruits and veggies, and pre-chop any vegetables I might be grilling up over the fire. Another suggestion: Pre-make snacks like guacamole, hummus, and avocado ranch dip so once you get to camp you can crack open a cold one and enjoy an appetizer without any trouble. For my avocado ranch dip, I use plain yogurt; it’s way healthier.

On leftovers
Have any leftover steak or chicken skewers? Bring along tortillas and cheese. You can purchase an easy-to-use grilling contraption with a handle so you can adjust the thickness and make quesadillas over the campfire. Use your pre-made guac and you are all set.

Getting your food and hydration dialed will give you the boost you need for excursions like this one; having the sun shower back at camp makes returning to the truck even sweeter. Photo courtesy Logan

On cleanliness
Dry shampoo, sun shower, and baby wipes. Baby wipes aren’t just for babies; they’re great to keep you from stinking from head to toe (trust me on this one). I love Paul Mitchell’s Dry Wash dry shampoo; after your second day, just spritz some into the roots of your hair and it soaks up the grease and dirt and makes a huge difference. When it is really warm out, a sun shower can make all the difference in the world. You put it on top of your car, the sun heats up the bag of water, and when you get back from the day’s activities it’s really nice to wash off with! (Don’t forget your soap!)

On pork
Bacon makes everything better. I like mine for breakfast all the time. And if you really want to treat yourself, have a bacon s’more. Bacon is great on…well, everything. It’s the fairy dust of food.

On downtime
Always bring along games. My friends and I like to play bocce ball, Frisbee golf, and Polish horseshoes. Take two ski poles and two empty beer cans and then prop the cans on top of the poles. Split into two teams and then try to hit them off with the Frisbee. There are lots of variations for this and it’s a lot of fun.

On water
Stay hydrated. I like Hansen’s Coconut Water and will try to drink a bottle in the morning when I wake up so it keeps me hydrated throughout the entire day. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water during the day.